Rugby Union: Baildon 27, Hornsea 5; Match Report by Bill Marshall.

Father-of-three Gary Strauss resigned himself several years ago to second team rugby at Baildon.

But the 37-year-old took his chance in a rare first team appearance on Saturday against Hornsea.

The No 8 scored the first try after just four minutes as the Jenny Laners swiftly established a 12-0 lead in their Independent Agriculture Yorkshire Silver Trophy quarter-final.

Yorkshire Division Four Hornsea pulled back to 12-5 by half-time with the slope in their favour in the second half.

But Yorkshire Division Three promotion contenders Baildon snuffed out any hopes of a comeback with a dominant final 40 minutes on a pitch that became increasingly boggy.

Strauss, who captained Baildon's first team in 1991-92, admitted afterwards: "I don't find the time to play these days what with having three children and a job as an electronics engineer, putting up intercoms at old people's homes.

"But I am glad to be able to help out the first team until a few of the lads are back from injury. Then it will be back to the second team.

"I would rather play for them than be on the bench for the first team - particularly at my age."

Hooker Dave Skirrow's throwing-in wasn't as accurate as normal, but both Baildon's first two tries came from line-out catches by lock Lee Brown.

Strauss said: "Lee caught it for my try and our flanker Jim Hutton got the ball and I took it off him as we drove and drove and someone said we were over the line so I touched it down.

"But I was surprised the match was even on. There was snow about early morning, but by 10am it had all cleared."

Prop Steve Burgess got Baildon's second try, right winger Dave Wilde converting to make it 12-0.

But Hornsea looked a different team after they scored a try by left winger Paul Jebson in the 27th minute.

They bossed the rest of the half and had genuine hope playing down the slope in the second half.

Once Baildon skipper James Dawson had scored a classic scrum half's blindside try soon after the oranges, however, Hornsea were always on the back foot.

Wilde's penalty made it 20-5, and replacement winger Nick Oddy's tenacity was instrumental in setting up flanker Chris Smithies for Baildon's fourth try in the 67th minute. Wilde converted for 27-5.

Mid-table Hornsea played with plenty of spirit, but had to give best to Baildon's experience.

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